Capsule closing and printing machine.



No. 820,724. PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

V. MELLBERG. CAPSULE CLOSING AND PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APILB, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Inventor- A PATENTBD MAY 15, 1906.

V. MELLBERG. CAPSULE CLOSING AND PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APILS, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

in van tor M Witnesses fiz/z W A (town 6 J,

PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

V. MELLBERG.

CAPSULE CLOSING AND PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.6, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wz'tn ess es MW 4 54,-

Inventor Attorn eys.

No.'820,724. PATENTED MAY 15, 1906. V. MELLBERG. GAPSULE CLOSING ANDPRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.6, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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m Witnesses: Inventor VICTOR MELLBERG, OF NEWVARK, NET/V JERSEY.

CAPSULE CLOSING AND PRINTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1906.

Application filed April 6, 1905. $erial No. 25 L164.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VICTOR MELLBERG, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Newark, county of Essex, and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CapsuleClosing and Printing Machines; and I do hereby declare the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the same, to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof.

The invention relates to machines for'clos ing the open ends of flexibletubes or capsules such as are used for paints, pastes of various kinds,and medicinal preparations by folding over the open end of such capsulesafter they have been filled with such preparations, and thereby sealingthe same. After the end has been folded over the flat portion of thefold may receive a printed inscription through the mechanism which formsa part of this invention.

The object of my invention is to provide automatic mechanism for closingthe open ends of such capsules and to do the same much more ra idly andwith far less expenditure of handabor.

A further object is to provide a capsuleclosing machine with a printingattachment whereby the closed capsule may be properly labeled, or, ifdesired, the advertising-card of the user may be printed across thefolded end of the capsule. I may add here that the rinting or stampingof names or card across the folded end has the further advantage of moreclosely sealing the capsule, inasmuch as the parts are pressed moreclosely together and therefore more firmly united.

In carrying out my invention I make use of mechanism substantially asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustratesa plan view of the machine, showing the same in position to receive acapsule in the holder preparatory to closing the end thereof. Fig. 2 isa side elevation of the same, illustrating certain parts thereof indetail. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate elevations of the opposite side of themachine, showing in detail the printing attachment. Fig. 5 illustrates agage or support more fully hereinafter described. Fig. 6 illustrates asection on line 6 6 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 7 illustrates a sectional viewon line 7 7 of Fig 6. Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 illustrate diagrammatically the several positions assumed by operative parts of themechanism during the process of closing the end of the capsule. Figs.14, 15, 16, and 17 illustrate, respectively, the capsule during thevarious steps of forming the parts thereon. Figs. 18 and 19 illustratetwo corresponding steps in the process of closing the capsule by makingwhat I term a triple fold.

The machine consists of the following parts:

A is a frame provided with the flaring base-flange A and having the sidemembers A and the forwardly-projecting members A?, saidforwardly-projecting members A being connected by an integral crossmember A. The back portion of the frame extends over at the upper partto form the hood A The forwardly-projecting members A are provided withthe horizontal guide-slots a, as shown particularly in the sideelevation. J ournaled in the upper portion of the frame and beneath thehood A is the shaft C, said shaft projecting laterally of the verticalside of the machine, as shown in Fig. 7. Mounted upon the ends of thisshaft and secured thereto by means of the set-screws b is the sectionalcam-lever B. This cam-lever is shown in Figs. 1 and 7 as made in twoparts secured together by means of the screw b in the handle thereof.The two sections of the cam-lever are reversed counterparts of eachotherthat is, they have the same contour, with the exception that theone is righthanded and the other is left. The sections of this cam-leverare provided with the slotted cams B". The two cam-slots b and b areprovided in each section. The cam-slot b is substantially circular incross-section, the center of the arc upon which it is struck beingconsiderably eccentric to the shaft C. Mounted in the slots a of theforward extension A of the frame is the horizontally-sliding plunger (1,(clearly shown in Fig. 1,) having the laterally-extending arms a, whichtake into the slot 1) of the cam-lever. The forward portion of thisplunger is reduced in thickness, as shown at a. The end portions of theextensions 0, are provided with antifriction-rollers a for the purposeof reducing the friction of the extensions a with the camslot 11 Securedbeneath and to the forwardly-extending portion of the hood A by means ofthe screws, as shown, is the anvil a in alincment with the plunger a,both plunger zind the anvil being made of case-hardened stee D is afolder and consists of a cylindrical shaft mounted to oscillate in theframe A, the bearings thereof being in substantial alinement with theslots a. The ends of the shaft D project laterally of the frame somedistance, as shown in Fig. 1, and are provided with crank-arms D saidcrank-arms being secured to the extremities of the shaft by means of theset-screws d. The outer ends of the arms are provided with crank-pinswhich take into the cam-slots I) of the cam-lever B antifriction devicesbeing provided for the purpose of reducing the friction to a minimum.These antifriction devices consist merely of flange-rollers mounted uponthe crank-pins, the reduced portion thereof extending into thecam-slots, as clearly shown in the drawings. That portion of the folderD comprised between the. sides A of the frame is cut away, so as toleave its cross-section substantially as shown in Figs. 6, 8, 9, &c. Itwill be noted that the cam-slots b are irregular in contour, having theupper portion, as illustrated in Fig. 6, substantially straight, whilethe lower portion is curved backward, being substantially an involute ofthe shaft C. Mounted between the said members A of the frame, as shownin Fig. 2, is a small shaft E, carrying upon its righthand exterior endthe operating-ratchet E, said ratchet being provided with an even numberof teeth. In the present case siX of such teeth are shown. Pivoted justabove said ratchet is the stop-pawl F" which engages the teeth of theratchet E; Mounted upon the inner side of right-hand section of thecam-lever is the spring-pawl G, said pawl operating during the movementof the han dle B to rotate the shaft E through the ratchet E. On theshaft E, between the side members A of the frame, is secured the lobedcam E there being just half as many lobes to this cam as there are teethin the ratchet E. I

In the lower portion of the frame A is journaled the horizontal shaft F.Secured to the shaft F by means of the set-screw f is the sleeve F.Projecting upwardly from the sleeve F is the arm F carrying at its upperextremity the roller F said roller engaging the lobes of the cam EProjecting forwardly from the sleeve F are the two arms F, carrying attheir outer ends the adjustable pivots f Suspended from said pivots isthe saddle G, which has the greater portion of its weight to the rear ofthe pivots f so that its lower portion has a tendency to swing forward.It is made of the general contour illustrated in Fig. 6, having the seatG at the bottom, and is designed to carry the socket H for the receptionof the capsule. When the socket H is in position, as shown in Figs. 6and 7, it has a tendency to fall rearwardly, and the upper portionthereof contacts with one of the lobes of the lobe-cam E The socket Hand saddle G may tilt forward, however, so that the inserted capsule maybe readily removed by hand.

I have provided the forward portion of the socket with a slot 72., inwhich is inserted the adj usting-screw h for the purpose of adjustingthe seat 7L2 within the socket to various positions, as indicated inFig. 7, so as to provide for capsules of different sizes. When the seat7L2 is properly adjusted for the capsule to be closed, the upper edge oropen end of the capsule will project upwardly between and slightly abovethe plunger a and anvil a Secured to the shaft 0 at its left-hand end isthe eccentric C, which in turn carries the eccentric-strap C andconnecting-rod C the lower end of which is pivoted to the crosshead I,said cross-head being guided by the posts I, as shown clearly in Figs. 3and 4. Between said posts I is located the socket I in which is locateda line of steel type I Projecting laterally from the left-hand side ofthe base of the machine, as shown in Fig. 7, is the gage-rod K, carryingan adjustable yoke K, secured to said rod by means of the set-screw 76in any desired position. This yoke K is of the general contourillustrated in Fig. 5, having a series of slots k of suitable size toreceive the covering-cap of the capsule, as illustrated in Fig. 7. Theyoke K is adjusted along the rod K and angularly upon the same toreceive the-capsule L, so that the folded end of the same will projecttoward the machine and lie upon the upper face of the type-bar I andjust beneath the crosshead The operation of the machine is as follows:With the handle B in the position indicated in Fig. 3, it will be notedthat the plunger a is at the forward end of the slot a. The filledcapsule with its end open is then inserted in the socket H, the seathaving been adjusted to the proper height, so that the upper edge of thecapsule will project somewhat above the plunger a and the folder D. Uponbringing the handle B forward into the position illustrated in Fig. 6the plunger a will be forced rearward, as shown, compressing the upperedge of the capsule, and simultaneously the folder D is rotated throughaction of the cam-slot b and cranks into the position shown in Fig. 6,so as to fold the upper edge of the same at right angles to the lengthof the capsule, as shown in Fig. 15. Further forward movement of thehandle B will re tract the plunger a and simultaneously the folder D isrotated into the position shown in Fig. 10that is, against the face ofthe anvil or abutment-so as to fold the upper edge of the capsule intothe position shown in Fig. 16. The lever B is then in the position shownin Fig. 4. Upon the return stroke of the lever B to its initial positionit will be noted that the plunger a will again be brought forward intothe position shown in Fig. 6, and the folder D simultaneously rotatesbackwardly out of the path of the plunger, said plunger during thisstroke compressing the lightly-folded upper end of the capsule, and thefurther rearward stroke of the handle B will retract the plunger a androtate the'folder D into the position shown in Fig. 11. Simultaneouslywith the rearward stroke of the handle B the pawl G will engage one ofthe teeth of the ratchet E, carrying withit the lobed cam E therebytilting the lever F backward, and through its connection with the arm Fand saddle G the socket H is elevated slightly to carry the capsuleupwardly for the second fold. The handle B is then brought forward asbefore, the operation being identical with that just described for thefirst fold when the second fold, as shown in Fig. 17, is produced, andupon the return of the handle B to this initial or rear position, asshown in Fig. 3, the socket II, containing the capsule, is tiltedforward and the capsule removed and placed in the position shown in Fig.7, resting with its capped end in one of the notches or slots K in theyoke K, with the folded end resting upon the type-bar I The machine isnow ready to receive another capsule in the saddle G. Upon therepetition of the operation just described to fold the second capsulethe cam C is brought into operation, thereby depressing the cross-head Iupon the folded end of the first capsule, thereby depressing such foldedend upon the type-bar I and printing the desired inscription thereon..These two operations are repeated for each capsule.

In order to produce the requisite pressure I for printing upon thefolded end of the capsule, I have found it necessary to provide someadjustment for the stroke of the crosshead I. A convenient method fordoing this is to limit the forward stroke of the lever B, so that theeccentric may be stopped when the desired degree of compression isreached. In order to limit the stroke of the handle B, I insert in theforward side of the plunger a an adjusting-screw L, which in theposition shown in. Fig. 3 and also in Fig. 1 will contact with thecross-piece A and when properly adjusted limit the stroke of the handleB, and with it the throw of the eccentric C. It will be noted that thisscrew L may be screwed out or in to vary the length of the stroke of theplunger a and thereby the forward stroke of the handle B.

The pawl F is for the purpose of preventing any backward movement of theratchet E when the roller F rests upon any one of the lobes of the camE. When the roller F rests between any two of these lobes, accidentalrotation of the cam E will be prevented.

l/Vhen it is desired to produce the triple fold, (shown in Fig. 19,) itis only necessary to elevate the adjustable seat 7L2 a little higherthan for the double fold. (Shown in Fig. 17.) The first operation of themachine over at right means for simultaneously will then produce thefold shown in Fig. 18 and the second that shown in Fig. 19.

In the use of this machine I have found that the resulting closedcapsule possesses additional advantages not secured by handwork. Informing the folds as described a portion of the contents of the capsulebecomes imprisoned right at the angle of the bend in each of the folds,as shown at '00, Figs. 16 17, 1S, and 19, thus forming a perfect sealfor the end of the capsule thus closed.

It will thus be seen that for each complete stroke of the handle B andits return to its initial position the plunger 0, will advance twicetoward the anvilfirst, to compress the open end of the capsule and foldthe same angles, and, second, to press or pinch the part which is madeby the folder D. The second stroke of the handle B produces the sameresults, with the exception that the capsule has been elevated slightlyto form the second fold, the second advance of the plunger 0.compressing and finishing the closing of the capsule so far as suchclosing is necessar I}; order to prevent shocks due to careless handlingof the machine, I insert rubber cushions y in the cam-slots b.

At first glance it might be thought that the folder D when being rotatedto form the first fold would interfere with the forward edge of theplunger a. To avoid such interference, I make the cam-slots l)concentric with the shaft C between their straight portions and theirinvolute portions. The straight and involute portions of these slotsthus produce, in combination with the concentric portions thereof, avarying oscillating velocity of the folder. It will thus be seen thatfor a portion of the stroke of the handle B the folder D remainsstationary, and this at the time when the plunger a is in proximity tothe anvil a Thus all interference of parts is avoided.

I have provided the holes M in the base of the machine in order tosecure the same to any fixed support whereby the machine may be renderedstable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In acapsule-closing machine, the com bination of a rigid abutment or anvil,a plunger in alinement therewith, a folder, means for oscillating saidfolder, and means for moving said plunger against and retracting thesame from said abutment, and thereafter oscillating said folder againsttheface of said abutment or anvil.

2. In a capsule-closing machine, the com* bination of a rigid abutmentor anvil, a reciprocating plunger, an oscillating folder, andreciprocating said plunger and oscillating said folder, against the faceof said abutment or anvil.

3. In a capsule-closing machine, the combination of a rigid abutment oranvil, a re ciprocating plunger, an oscillating folder, a lever providedwith means for actuating said plunger and a means for actuating saidfolder, to cause the same to press against the face of said abutment oranvil.

4. In a capsule-closing machine, the combination of an abutment oranvil, a reciprocating plunger, and oscillating folder, means foradvancing and retracting said plunger, and means for simultaneouslyoscillating said folder, againstthe face of said abutment or anvil.

5. In a capsule-closing machine, the combination of an abutment oranvil, a reciprocating plunger, and oscillating folder, means foradvancing and retracting said plunger and means for oscillating saidfolder at a varying velocity during the advance and retraction of saidplunger.

6. In a capsule-closing machine, the combination of an abutment oranvil, a plunger, a folder, means for advancing and retracting saidplunger, means for moving said folder forward a portion of its strokeduring the advance of the plunger, and then holding said folderstationary during a portion of the reverse movement of the plunger andthereafter continuing the forward movement of the folder during theremainder of the rearward stroke of said plunger.

7. In a capsule-closing machine, the combination of an abutment oranvil, a plunger, guides for said plunger, means for advancing andretracting said plunger along said guides, a folder, means foroscillating said folder dur ing the advance of the plunger, acapsuleholder, means for elevating said holder during each alternaterearward stroke of said plunger.

8. In a capsule-closing machine, the combination of an abutment oranvil, a plunger, a folder, an oscillating lever, a cam upon said leverfor actuating said plunger to advance and retract the same toward andfrom said abutment, a second cam upon said lever for actuating saidfolder simultaneously with the movement of said plunger.

9. In a capsule-closing machine, the combination of a frame or support,an abutment rigidly secured upon said frame, a plunger mounted to slidein guides upon said frame, a folder journaled in said frame, a leverjournaled upon said frame, a cam upon said lever for actuating saidplunger, a second cam upon said lever for actuating said folder, acapsuleholder supported by said frame, connection between said holderand said lever, whereby said holderis alternately elevated and lowered.

10. In a capsule. closing and printing machine, the combination of meansfor closing" the open end of a capsule, with means for printing aninscription up on the closed end of said capsule.

11. In a capsule closing and printing ma chine, the combination withmeans for folding and sealing the end of a capsule, to form a flatprinting-surface, of mechanism actuated by the operative parts of saidmeans for printing an inscription upon the flat printing surface of saidcapsule.

12. In a capsule closing and printing ma chine, the combination withmeans for closing and sealing the end of a capsule, to form a flatprinting-surface, of an eccentric and strap secured to the shaft of theclosing and sealing means, a guided cross-head connected to said strap,and a line of type fixed in the path of said cross-head, whereby the oeration of the machine to close and sea one capsule will print aninscription upon the printing-surface of a second capsule.

13. In a capsule-closing machine the combination with means for closinga capsule, of means for folding over and compressing the closed end ofsaid capsule, and means for alternately raising and lowering saidcapsule whereby a plurality of folds may be formed in the closed endthereof.

14. In a capsule-closing machine, the combination of a frame, a shaft journaled in the upper portion of said frame, a sectional lever securedto the ends of said shaft, pairs of cams in said. lever, a guidedplunger having lateral studs in engagement with and operated by one pairof said cams, a folder journaled in said frame in substantial alinementwith said plunger, cranks upon the ends .of said folder in engagementwith and operated by the second pair of cams, a capsule-holder pivotallysupported in said frame, and means operated by said sectional lever foralternately elevating and lowering said capsuleholder.

15. In a capsule closing' and printing machine, the combination of aframe, a shaft journaled in the upper portion of'said frame, a sectionallever secured to the ends of said shaft, pairs of cams in said lever, aguided plunger having lateral studs in engagement with and operated byone pair of said cams, a folder journaled in said frame in substantialalinement with said plunger, cranks upon the ends of said folder inengagement with and operated by the second pair of came, acapsule-holder pivotally supported in said frame, and means operated bysaid sectional lever for alternately elevating and lowering saidcapsule-holder, and printing mechanism connected with said frameactuated by said sectional lever.

This specification signed and witnessed this 1st day of April, 1905.

VICTOR MELLBERG. Witnesses LoUIs M. SANDERS, FREDK. C. FISCHER.

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